Im Not Christian But I Do Believe In The Power Of Prayer. For This Reason I Keep A Little Homonculus

Whenever I visit a city, I try to find the weirdest little bookstore tucked away in it. Today I found a very weird one indeed.

The front door has a handwritten sign saying "Backpacks and large bags must be left at front desk." I walk in, and an 80-year-old man at an 80-year-old desk covered in Dr. Seuss books and angel statues immediately drawls, "Ignore the sign. I didn't make it. What're you lookin' for?"

Ancient Rome, of course. He moseys through an aisle that clearly predates wheelchair accessibility laws, and waves at a bookshelf labeled ANCIENT HISTORY, sandwiched between WIMMIN and SPARKLY THINGS.

On closer inspection, WIMMIN is actually the first of four book cases of women's history and biographies. There is no section for men's biographies. SPARKLY THINGS is jewelry, and conveniently located next to SCIENCE & HEAVY THINKING.

I select a useful-looking book from a surprisingly rich selection, then mosey on through the rest of the store, because you must mosey in a place so thoroughly Texan:

The Christian selection is vast. But our book seller also has a nice range of Jewish literature, Islamic texts in the original Arabic, East Asian religions, and FURRIN LANGUAGE textbooks.

I highlight the drawl out of love, not mocking. I have a drawl, and I think it's cool. (And also a little funny.) I was pleased to find a section on Black history, too.

Next to the Chronicles of Narnia we find MISC MILITARY, which features - what else? - guides for identifying aliens and practicing magic.

I joke, I joke - most of the store is perfectly well organized, and the family's World War I memorial and knick-knacks make it feel very personal and lived-in. And loved.

On the second floor we find history and geography for specific countries, such as the RUSSKIES, more philosophy, and genealogy CHESS.

Ah, the changing tastes of the American bookworm...Here we can also learn about SHOOTING BAMBI, STUFFING BAMBI, and HUNTIN.

And of course, the sign that made me realize I had to share this wonderful place with the rest of y'all, nestled between EDUCATIN CHILLERN and PRE-STRESSED CONCRETE:

As I check out, I'm menaced by a lasso on the wall:

"LARIAT: FORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF PECOS BILL. HE TRIED TO DUKE IT OUT WITH THE BOOKSELLER AND THE REST IS HISTORY."

Anyway. If you're ever in Fort Worth, Texas, do give Barber's Book Store a look. And if you ain't in Fort Worth, check out your nearest indie bookstore anyway. They often have really unique selections, and a feeling of history and personality that you don't get anywhere else. Barber's had a lot more variety than I showed here, and it's 99 years old!

As for what I bought? I think it's going to be very interesting...

jason's 13 years at the super disciplined camp and several years as a leader of said camp mean it is very unlikely that he is any shade of feral, except for maybe a few minor idiosyncracies that all camp jupiter kids have because they all spent time at the wolf house, but since they all have these traits, they might be considered cultural rather than feral. however, annabeth chase, who was famously left alone until she was seven and was raised by an ancient greek horse man that used to live alone on a mountain, a barely sober god of mental illness, several other mythical beings based on animals, and approximately 37 different traumatized, exhausted, and desperate teenagers at an unregulated summer camp where she learned how to be scary by studying greek monsters, would definitely be somewhere near feral.

Forced to learn how tumblr works because quotev has officially killed itself ☹️ (please tell me terms and stuff i should know) (and explain it like youre talking to your mom about your favorite media)

I mean fuck, I like buttons, I like bones, I like getting knick knacks, I like trinkets, I like to stash, I like daydreaming and day whimsy and hollow wood, I like doing maximalist shit, hoard it? Probably would!

you: suck my dick me, an intellectual: inhale my richard

when i'm on my deathbed: i should have booped more